Instrument supporting device



June 13, 1939. c. L. HuNslcKER INSTRUMENT SUPPORTING DEVICE Filed March29, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 jin w ATTORNEY.

Patented June 13, 1939` UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE INSTRUMENT SUPPORTIN G DEVICE Application Maich 29,

9 Claims.

This invention relates generally to equipment for adjustably supportingvarious instruments, as for example ophthalmological instruments used inthe testing of eyes andthe fitting of glasses.

It is an object of the invention to generally improve upon apparatus ofthe above character whereby the instrument or device being supported,can be conveniently adjusted toi a desired position, and can be held insuch position While the instrument is in use. In the `past suchapparatus has been constructed in such a manner as to be difficult tomanipulate, both with respect to adjusting the instrument to a desiredposition, and with respect to retaining the instrument in the desired.location after adjustments are made. One type of apparatus whichconstitutes an improvement over the prior art, is disclosed in myco-pending application Serial No. 91,464, led July 20, 1936. The subjectmatter of the present case can be deemed a further improvement,particularly with respect to the means employed for counter-balancingcertain parts, and the means for retaining a particular adjustment.

Further objects of the invention will appear from the followingdescription in which the preferred embodiment of the invention has beenset forth in detail in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view, illustrating apparatus in accordancewith the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional detail, taken along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a plan View showing a part which can be utilized inconjunction with the base illustrated in Fig. 2, to form a modified typeof supporting means.

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional View taken along the line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional detail taken along the line 5-5 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged side elevational view, in 45 cross-section.

Fig. 'I is a cross-sectional .view taken along the line 'I-'I of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional detail taken along the line 8-8 of Fig. 6,and on an enlarged scale.

Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional detail, illustrating a modied form ofcounter-balancing means connected to the chain.

The apparatus illustrated in the .drawings consists generally of apedestal I 0, which carries a tubular casing II. Within Ythe casing' H.there 1937, Serial No. 133,585

isa tracking means designated .generally at I2, which is engaged by acarriage I3. A horizontal arm I4 is mounted upon the carriage I3, andVthe free end of `this arm has a pivotal connection I6, with the memberITI. Itis upon the member I l that the ophthalmological instrument .orlike ,device is mounted, and the features of the apparatus to bepresently described enable substantially universal Vadjustment of theinstrument within a prescribed space, with reten- ,tionof the instrumentin a desired adjusted position.

lTo describe the pedestal I 0 in detail, it consists of a base 2 I,carrying a vertically extending tube 22.

2| so that the pedestal can either be mounted in close juxtapositionwith a wall, or secured to the oor at a point remote from the wall. Thus`as shown in Figs. 2 and 3 the base is formed of two parts 21a. and 2lb,which when secured together form a base which is` circular in contour.The plane iof division .between the two parts 2Ia and 2lb is vertical,and o-ifset from the center `of the tube 22, so that the base part 2Iaforms of itself a complete supporting part. With the two base parts 2Iaand 42lb secured together, vby screws or ,like attaching means, the baseis suitable vfor attachment to the floor at any .point remote from awall. If it is desired to mount the .base close to a wall surface, thenthe base part 2lb is removed,v and a supplemental plate 23 atitached tothe base part.2la, as by means of screws 24. The base part ZIacannowbeplaced in close Yproximity with a wall surface, as shown Iin Fig.1, .and plate V23 can be secured to the wall by means of screws -26(Fig. 4).

`The casing II is journalled withrespect to tube 22,'whereby the casingmay rotate about its vertical axis. Thus the lower end of casing `I I isshown having a telescopical t within the tube .22, and the upper end oftube 22 isengaged bya collar 28, which `is secured to the casing I I.This ,collar is split to afford the resilient portions 29, .which areYshown engaged by a clamping screw 3I and nut 32. By tightening nut V32,sleeve ,28 is caused to grip the tube 22, thus retaining the casing Illin a fixed angular position with respect `to ,the ,base supportingpedestal.

The tracking means I2 can bebest'understood by reference to Figs. 5, 6`and 7. It ,consists of three vertically extending rods 33, 34 and 35,which are spaced equal distances apart. 'I'he ends of theserodsaresecured to upper Land lower `members 31 and 38, with both of thesemember being secured to the casing `I I.

It is preferable to construct the base?.

The carriage I3, which engages the tracking means I2, consists of ametal body 39. Two sets of tracking wheels or rollers 4| and 42 aremounted upon the body 39, with the'rollers of the two sets beingdisposed in planes which are at an acute angle with respect to eachother. These rollers engage the tracking rods 33, 34 and 35 in themanner illustrated particularly in Fig. 7. Arm I4 is in the form of ametal tube, having its one end tted into and secured to the body 39 ofthe carriage.

The counter-balancing means for the carriage and arm, and also for theparts carried by the arm, is preferably constructed as follows: Belowthe tracking means and within the tube 22 of the pedestal, there is acounter-balancing weight 44. Attached to this weight there is a flexiblecable or chain 46, which has been referred to in the appended claims asa flexible retention element. The other end of chain 46 has anattachment 41, to the carriage body 39. `The intermediate 4portions ofthe chain are looped over a number .of sprocket wheels, including asprocket wheel 48,

the sprockets 49, 5I and 52, and relative movement takes place betweenthe laterally looped portionV of the Vchain and the arm. As will bepresently explained such lateral movement is utilized in connection withmeans for restraining the carriage and arm against Vertical movements.

The alternative use of a spring in place of the counter-balancing weight44, is shown in Fig. 9. In this instance a compression spring 56 isprovided, which has its upper end seated upon member 38, and its lowerend seated upon a thrust `member 51. Thrust member 51 is attached toapull rod 58, which has an attachment 59 to the vend of the chain, andwhich also carries a sprocket wheel 6I.V Another sprocket wheel 62 isjmounted upon the under side of member 38, and

thechain is engaged over these sprockets in the 'manner shown in Fig. 9.,Thus downward pull of spring 56 upon the rod 58, is transmitted to the4chain 46, and the motion multiplied.

'Ihe pivotal connection |6 between Varm I4 and member I1, preferably hasits axis arranged vertically, and is formed between the cooperating'castings vor like members 63 and 64 (Fig. 6) Casting 63 is secured tothe outer end of the rarm I4, while casting 64 serves as a mounting forthe memberu I1. `Casting' 64 is provided with a cylindrical boreto'loosely t the sleeve 66. One end of this sleeve is seated uponcasting 63 and the'other end seated upon an end cap 61,which Vin turn isclamped to the casting 64, by screw 68. The' upper end face` of castingV64 is provided with an annular'recess 69, which accommodates a splitring'1I.. A pin'12 serves to anchor ring 1I tor the casting v63.y Theends o'f the split ring arebevelled as indicated at 13, to cooperatewith kan expanding pin 14. k'I'his pin is slidably mounted in the lowerend portionof Vcasting 63, and when it is forced downwardly to expandring 1I, the Vring gripsthe'outer peripheral surface of recess 69, Vtofrict'ionally retain the'casting 64 fast with respect to casting 63.V

The means for actuating the pin 14, is correlated with means forrestraining the chain 46 against movements relative to the arm I4. Thismeans is preferably in the form of a brake shoe 16, which is disposedimmediately below the sprocket wheel 5|, and which is pivotallyconnected to one end of a lever 11. The intermediate portion of lever 11has a fulcrum connection 18, with the upper end of pin 14. 'I'he outerend of lever 11 has a pivotal connection 19, with a plunger 8|. Acompression spring 82, has its lower end seated upon plunger 8I, and itsupper end seated upon a ferrule 83, which is attached to the casting 63.

In order tol raise the plunger 8|, and thus simultaneously releas-e shoe16 and also the'expanding pin 14, means are employed including a singleoperating member 84. This operating member has a pivotal connection 86Vwith the ferrule 83. It also has a pivotal connection 81 with the upperend of a link 88, the lower end of this link having afpivotal connectionto the plunger 8|. When member 84 is swung to the vertical positionillustrated in Fig. 6, link 88 raises.

plunger 8I, thus causing retractionY of p-in 14 and shoe 16. However,when member 84 is swung to the right as Viewed in Fig. 6, spring 82presses plunger 8| downwardly, and thus force is applied Vdownwardlyupon the expanding pin 14, to ex-V pand ring 1I, and likewise force isapplied upwardly upon shoe 16, to press this shoe into braking-engagement with the adjacent portion of chain 46. Therefore when memberV84| is in the released position, illustrated in Fig. 6, carriage I3 canbe freely raised or lowered with respect to v the tracking means, andmember I1 can be swung about to different angles with respect to the armI4. To retain the instrument attached to arm I1 in a desired position,member 84 is moved to the braking position previously described, toIrestrain pivotal movement between member I1 and arm I4, and verticalmovements of this arm rela-v tive to the supporting means.

Operation of the complete apparatus will be apparent from the abovedescription. With the nut 32' in clamped position, arm I4 will be heldagainst movements about a vertical axis. However, when nut 32 isreleased the angular position of arm I4 can be changed,;as desired. Withthe member 84 in released position, arm I4 and carriage I3 can bereadily moved to different Vervtical positions, by a relatively slightamount of manual effort. An operator may Y apply such forces to theinstrument mounting member I1 or to the instrument itself, Vwhile theinstrument is being shifted to the location desired. There- `after onlyone operation is required, namely movement of member 84 to brakingpositiomto retain the instrument'in relatively Vfixed position.

I claim: i l

1. In an adjustable support for instruments, a relatively fixedmounting, verticallyr 'extending tracking means, means for journallingsaid tracking means with respect to said mounting, whereby the trackingmeans is rotatable about a vertical axis, a carriage engaging saidtrackingj means and capable of Vertical movement with respect to thesame, a laterally extending arm having one end of the same secured tosaid'carriage, la flexible retention element having one end of the sameattached to the carriage, a wheel mountedY near the upper end of thetracking'meansand over which the retention element is looped, meansvadjacent the lower end of saiditracking means I' Y .and serving toapply downward pull-'tothe other 75 ing,

end of'said retention element, said element having a laterally extendingloop of the same positioned within said arm, and means carried by saidarm and serving to releasably restrain the element against movement withrespect to the arm.

2. In an adjustable support for instruments, a mounting, tracking meanscarried by the mounta carriage engaging the tracking means, an arm xedto the carriage and extending laterally from the tracking means, afl-exible retentionv elementA having a laterally extending loop disposedwithin said arm, wheels mounted upon the carriage and upon said arm,upon which said element is engaged, whereby when the carriage is movedwith respect to the track, said element is caused to enter and leavesaid arm, and releasable means for retaining said element in arelatively fixed position with respect to said arm, whereby said arm isreleasably restrained against movement with respect to the trackingmeans.

3. In an adjustable support for instruments, a relatively xed mounting,vertically extending tracking means journalled upon said mounting,whereby said tracking means can swing about a vertical axis, a carriageengaging said tracking means, an arm fixed to the carriage and extendinglaterally from the tracking means, a flexible retention element, meansconnected to one end of said element for applying force in onedirection, an attachment between the other end of said retention elementand said carriage whereby the weight of the carriage and the arm iscounterbalanced, a portion of said el-ement extending along the carriageand having movement relative to the carriage when the carriage is raisedor lowered, and means for releasably gripping and restraining saidportion of the flexible element against movement with respect to saidcarriage, whereby the carriage is releasably restrained with respect tomovements along the tracking means.

4. In an adjustable support for instruments, a relatively xed mounting,vertically extending tracking means journalled upon the mounting,whereby the tracking means may rotate about a vertical axis, a carriageengaging the tracking means, an arm mounted upon the carriage andextending laterally from the tracking means, a flexible retentionelement, means attached to one end of said element adjacent the lowerend of said tracking means, and serving to apply downward force upon thesame, a connection between the other end of said retention element andsaid carriage, a wheel mounted adjacent the upper end of said trackingmeans and over which the retention element is tracked, whereby' thatportion of the retention element between said wheel and said forceapplying means, moves relative to the carriage when the carriage ismoved with respect to the tracking means, and means for releasablylocking said portion of the flexible element with respect to thecarriage.

5. In an adjustable support for instruments, a mounting, a verticallyextending tracking means journalled to the mounting, whereby thetracking means can rotate about a vertical axis, a carriage engaging thetracking means, an arm xed to the carriage and extending substantiallyhorizontally from the same, a flexible retention element, means forapplying counter-balancing force to the lower end of said retentionelement, said lower end being below thertracking means, a connectionbetween the other end of the retention element and said carriage, awheel mounted near the upper end of the tracking means and over whichthe retention element is looped, at least three wheels mounted upon thecarriage and the arm, said wheels engaging and retaining a laterallyextending loop formed in that portion of the flexible elementextendingrbetweenthe rstmentioned wheel and the lower portion ofithetracking means, and means mounted upon `saidv arm at a point remote fromsaid tracking means for releasably restraining said flexible elementagainst movements with respect tothe arm.

6. In an adjustable support `for instruments, vertically extendingtracking means, a carriage engaging the tracking means, a ksubstantiallyhorizontally extending arm secured to the carriage, a member pivotallyconnected to the free end of said arm and adapted to serve as a mountingfor an instrument, the pivotal connection between said member and saidarm being on a vertical axis, and clutching means associated with saidpivotal connection and serving toV releasably retain said member in axed angular position with respect to said arm, said clutching meansincluding a split ring and means for expanding said ring to engagedposition.

7. In an adjustable support for instruments, vertically extendingtracking means, a carriage engaging said tracking means, an arm securedto said carriage and extending outwardly from the same in a generalhorizontal position, a member pivotally connected to the free end ofsaid arm and adapted to serve as a mounting for an instrument, a exibleretention element associated with said tracking means, wheels mountedupon the carriage and upon the arm, said retention element being engagedwith respect to said wheels whereby a loop of said retention element isdisposed within said arm, said loop being movable with respect to thearm upon moving the carriage along the tracking means, and means forreleasably restraining movements of the retention element with respectto said arm and for releasably restraining said member against pivotalmovement with respect to the arm, said lastV means including a singlemanually operating member.

8. In an adjustable support for instruments, vertically extendingtracking means, a carriage engaging the tracking means, an arm havingone end of the same secured to the carriage and extending laterally fromthe tracking means, a exible retention element, means engaging one endof said retention element and serving to exert downward pull upon thesame, a connection between the other end of the retention element andthe carriage, a wheel mounted near the upper end of the tracking meansand over which the retention element is engaged, wheels mounted upon thecarriage and upon the arm, said wheels serving to engage and retain alaterally extending loop formed in that portion of the retention elementwhich lies between the first named wheel and the low-er end of thetracking means, and

disposed within the arm, whereby as the carriage is moved with respecttothe tracking means said flexible element is caused to enter and leavethe arm, a member pivotally connected to the free end of said arm andadapted to serve as a mounting for an instrument, the pivotal connectionbetween said member and the arm being on a vertical axis, clutchingmeans associated with said pivotal connection and serving to releasablyretain said member in a substantially i'lxedV angular position withrespect to said arm, a member having releasable braking engagement withsaid flexible element, thereby serving to retain the Vcarriage againstmovement relative to the tracking means,'and meansincluding a singleoperating member carried by the free end of the arm, for simultaneouslyactuating bothsaid clutching -means and said braking means. Y

force to the lower end of said retention element, said lower end beingbelow the tracking means, a connection between the other end of theretention element and said carriage, a wheel mounted near the upper endof the tracking means and over which the retention element is looped,and at least three wheels mounted upon the carriage and the arm, saidwheels engaging and retaining a laterally extending loop formed in thatportion of the flexible element lextending between the first-mentionedwheel and the lower portion of the tracking means. Y ,Y

CLYDE L. VHUNSICKER.

